Bomberger's Distillery
Encyclopedia
Bomberger's Distillery, later known as Michter's Distillery, may at the time of its closing have been the oldest distillery in the United States
. The complex, located near Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania
represents the transformation of whiskey distilling from an agricultural enterprise into a large-scale industry. The still house, warehouse, and jug house date from about 1840.
In 1753, John and Michael Shenk, Swiss Mennonite
farmers, began distilling rye whiskey at the site. Sometime before 1860, Abraham Bomberger, a Pennsylvania Dutch
man, purchased the distillery from the Shenk family. The distillery closed in 1919. With the lifting of Prohibition, Pennco Distillers acquired the property and made whiskey until 1978, when the distillery was sold to Michter's. The distillery closed in 1989 after Michter's filed for bankruptcy.
Bomberger's was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1975,
and was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1980.
According to one of Y. Fowler's websites the site is no longer a National Historic Landmark; however this appears to be incorrect as it is still listed as one by the National Park Service. It is possible that there was a recommendation for removing the designation, but it appears not to have been acted upon.
Today the distillery is severely deteriorated from lack of maintenance and is owned by a woodworker named Dwight Hostetter who has (with help from an enthusiast named Ethan Smith) somewhat tried to preserve the site but has no particular interest in the property as a distillery.
Recently, bourbon whiskey
made prior to the distillery's closing has been bottled under the A. H. Hirsch label.
Since 2004, bourbon and rye whiskey produced in Bardstown, Kentucky
by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers
has been sold under the Michter's label, currently owned by Chatham Imports, Inc.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The complex, located near Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania
Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania
Schaefferstown is a census-designated place in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States and is completely surrounded by Heidelberg Township. The population was 984 at the 2000 census. Bomberger's Distillery is located near Schaefferstown.-Geography:...
represents the transformation of whiskey distilling from an agricultural enterprise into a large-scale industry. The still house, warehouse, and jug house date from about 1840.
In 1753, John and Michael Shenk, Swiss Mennonite
Mennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
farmers, began distilling rye whiskey at the site. Sometime before 1860, Abraham Bomberger, a Pennsylvania Dutch
Pennsylvania Dutch
Pennsylvania Dutch refers to immigrants and their descendants from southwestern Germany and Switzerland who settled in Pennsylvania in the 17th and 18th centuries...
man, purchased the distillery from the Shenk family. The distillery closed in 1919. With the lifting of Prohibition, Pennco Distillers acquired the property and made whiskey until 1978, when the distillery was sold to Michter's. The distillery closed in 1989 after Michter's filed for bankruptcy.
Bomberger's was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1975,
and was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1980.
According to one of Y. Fowler's websites the site is no longer a National Historic Landmark; however this appears to be incorrect as it is still listed as one by the National Park Service. It is possible that there was a recommendation for removing the designation, but it appears not to have been acted upon.
Today the distillery is severely deteriorated from lack of maintenance and is owned by a woodworker named Dwight Hostetter who has (with help from an enthusiast named Ethan Smith) somewhat tried to preserve the site but has no particular interest in the property as a distillery.
Recently, bourbon whiskey
Bourbon whiskey
Bourbon is a type of American whiskey – a barrel-aged distilled spirit made primarily from corn. The name of the spirit derives from its historical association with an area known as Old Bourbon, around what is now Bourbon County, Kentucky . It has been produced since the 18th century...
made prior to the distillery's closing has been bottled under the A. H. Hirsch label.
Since 2004, bourbon and rye whiskey produced in Bardstown, Kentucky
Bardstown, Kentucky
As of the census of 2010, there were 11,700 people, 4,712 households, and 2,949 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 5,113 housing units at an average density of...
by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers
Kentucky Bourbon Distillers
Kentucky Bourbon Distillers , Ltd., also known as the Willett Distilling Company, is a private family-owned and -operated company that markets bourbon and rye whiskey. The company is located on the outskirts of Bardstown, Kentucky on a site that began as a farm owned by the family...
has been sold under the Michter's label, currently owned by Chatham Imports, Inc.